Automatic sidewall servicer

ABSTRACT

A servicer is described for supplying two cut-to-length strips of sidewall simultaneously to a tire building drum without handling by the tire builder, thereby eliminating any stretching of the sidewalls or distortion of the shape of the sidewalls which can happen when the sidewalls are physically handled by the tire builder. The servicer employs twin cassettes which contain two spools of spirally wound sidewall which is separated by a comparatively rigid, U-shaped protective liner. 
     The servicer has an indexing table for moving twin cassettes from a standby position to a let-off position to a take-up position and, lastly, to a removal position where the cassette is removed for rewinding with new material. 
     A robotic grabber is provided to engage the leading edges of liners on a let-off cassette and move them to the rear of the servicer where the operator threads the liners onto a take-up cassette and the sidewall onto a pair of overhead belt-type conveyors for transportation to a discharge tray which is mounted on the front end of the servicer for rotation to and from an adjacent tire building drum. 
     The discharge tray carries a mechanism for cutting the sidewall, to length, and a device for finally aligning the cut sidewall for passage from the tray onto the sidewall area of an unvulcanized tire carcass being built on the drum.

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 07/077,705filed July 24, 1987.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention relates to tire building machinery, especially servicerswhich are used to store and supply unvulcanized rubber sidewall stock toan operator who is building an unvulcanized tire on a tire buildingdrum.

At present, sidewall stock is formed, cut-to-length, and stored inhorizontal trays which are separated from each other to prevent damageto the shape of the stock. The tire builder removes two pieces of stockfrom the trays of the servicer and applies them, by hand, to theunvulcanized, cord reinforced tire carcass being built on the tirebuilding drum. Frequent handling of the unvulcanized stock causesstretching and distortion of the rubber, so that a serious hump can beformed in the sidewall by a piece of overly stretched stock. The humpproduces a pocket in which air becomes trapped to adversely affectadhesion between the stock and adjacent components of the tire.

The invention is designed to provide a cut-to-length piece of sidewallstock which is immediately applied to the tire building drum withouthandling by the operator, thereby eliminating or substantially reducingany distortion of the unvulcanized rubber stock, prior to its use in thetire building process.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention is in a sidewall servicer and a cassettewhich employs twin spools on which separate strips of sidewall andU-shaped protective liners are spirally wrapped.

The servicer comprises an indexing table for moving twin cassettes todifferent positions on the servicer. A pair of robotic grabbers areprovided for grasping leading edges of the liners and moving them topositions where an operator can grab the liners and separate from them,the strips of stock for threading on an overhead conveyor whichtransports the stock to a discharge tray where the strips of stock arecut, to length, and then properly aligned for passage onto a tirebuilding drum which is adjacent the discharge end of the tray.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The following description of the invention will be better understood byhaving reference to the accompanying drawing of the following figures inwhich certain portions have been removed to clarify the description ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a twin cassette;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the twin cassette;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the liner;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a servicer of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the servicer, as seen from the line 5--5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the servicer, as seen from the line 6--6 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the servicer, as seen from the line 7--7 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the indexing table, as seen from the line 8--8of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view of the initial sidewall stock aligningdevice which is at the rear end of the servicer;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the discharge tray;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the tray;

FIG. 12 is a section of the tray viewed from the line 12--12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a portion of the tray designed to show thejuncture of the conveyer and stock cutting assembly with the adjacentfixed roller conveyor of the tray;

FIG. 14 is a section of the final aligning device of the tray, as seenfrom the line 14--14 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a section of the final aligning device of the tray, as seenfrom the line 15--15 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 16 is a section of the spring-loaded guide bar of the finalaligning device of the tray, as seen from the line 16--16 of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

With general reference to the drawing for like parts, and specificreference to FIGS. 4-7, there is shown a servicer 17 which is placedadjacent a tire building drum 18 to supply cut-to-length unvulcanizedrubber strips of whitewall and blackwall stock 19 to the drum 18 forapplication on an unvulcanized tire carcass being built on the drum 18.

The servicer 17 essentially comprises: a twin cassette 20 for holdingthe whitewall and blackwall stock 19; a rigid framework 40; an indexingtable 60 on which four twin cassettes 20 can be positioned; a roboticgrabber 80 for facilitating threading of the stock 19 in the servicer17; a device 100 for initially aligning the stock 19 for subsequentpassage through the servicer 17; an overhead conveyor 120 fortransporting the stock 19 a predetermined distance to relax stressbuilt-up in the stock 19 during coiling of the stock 19 on the twincassette 20; a discharge tray 140 from which stock 19 exits the servicer17; a device 160 for cutting stock 19 on the discharge tray 140, tolength; and a mechanism 200 for finally aligning the strips of whitewalland blackwall stock 19 for passage to the tire building drum 18.

Twin Cassette and Liner

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a twin cassette 20 whichcomprises a rectangular metal base 21 which has two aligned and spacedopenings 22, 23 which are sized to receive the outstanding forks of aconventional fork lift truck. Three rigid stanchions 24, 25, 26 extendvertically from the base 21 in parallel relation, when the base 21 ishorizontal. A pair of identical reels or spools 27, 28 are journaledbetween the stanchions 24, 25 and 25, 26 for rotating freely in parallelplanes about the same axis. Each of the spools 27, 28 has a cylindricalcore 29 around which is secured, for example, the first part 30 of atwo-part Velcro-type fastener.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a U-shaped liner 31 forprotecting the shape of a piece of unvulcanized rubber sidewall stock19. The liner 31, in cross-section, comprises a planar web 32 which hasa pair of parallel marginal edges 33, 34. A pair of similar projections35 extend from the marginal edges 33, 34 a distance d which is greaterthan the greatest thickness t of the sidewall stock 19. The web 32 iscomposed of a rigid material, preferably polyvinylchloride having atextured surface to which the unvulcanized rubber sidewall stock willnot adhere. In contrast to the rigid web 32, the projections 35 areformed of a more compressible material, preferably an elastomer such asa rubber. It can be appreciated from FIG. 3, that the spirally wrappedlayers of liner 31 form a spirally oriented recess 36 in which thesidewall stock 19 can safely rest.

The roll of liner 31 and stock 19 is kept from unraveling by providingthe outermost leading edge 37 of the liner 31 with, for example, thesecond part 38 of a two-part Velcro-type fastener for detachablesecurement to the first part 39 of such fastener which is secured to thenext underlayer of liner 31 adjacent the leading edge 37. The fastenerat the leading edge 37 of the liner 31 can also be attached to the core29 of a spool 27, 28. The stock 19 is terminated short of the leadingedge 37 of the liner 31, so that the leading edge 37 can be picked upand threaded on an empty cassette without injuring the sidewall stock19.

Servicer Framework

With reference to FIGS. 4-7, there is shown the servicer 17 whichcomprises a rigid metal framework 40 which is bolted to a horizontalfloor 41 in adjacent, aligned relation with the tire building drum 18. Asafety switch in the form of a mat 42 on which the operator stands as hebuilds the unvulcanized tire carcass on the building drum 18, isprovided between the drum 18 and adjacent vertical front frame 43 of theservicer 17 to prevent operation of the servicer 17, until the operatormoves from the mat to alongside the framework 40 and a main controlpanel 44 to begin operation of the servicer 17, when the tire carcass isready for receipt of the sidewall stock 19. The framework 40 has a rearframe 45 which is vertically disposed in spaced relation from the frontframe 43.

A motor 46 is operatively connected by means of a gear box 47 to a driveroll 48 which is pivotally mounted on the front and rear frames 43, 45for rotation into and out of driving engagement with the rims 49 ofadjacent spools 27, 28 of twin cassettes 20 in the let-off and take-uppositions LP, TP, by means of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders 50. Thereare four drive rolls 48 which are programmed for synchronized rotationabout axes which are parallel to the rotational axis of the tirebuilding drum 18 and normal to the direction of travel of the liner 31and stock 19.

A plurality of guide rolls 51, 52, 53 (FIG. 4) are strategically locatedadjacent either side of the framework 40 to direct liner 31 and stock 19towards the rear frame 45. The guide rolls 51, 52, 53 are mounted forrotating freely about axes which are also parallel to the rotationalaxis of the tire building drum 18.

Indexing Table

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, there is shown the rectangular skidshifter or indexing table 60 which is bolted to the floor 41 within theframework 40. If desired, the framework 40 can be provided with framingto facilitate positioning of the indexing table 60 which is designed tosupport four twin cassettes 20 simultaneously, and sequentially movethem from an on-deck or standby position SP, to a let-off position LP,to a take-up position TP, and lastly to a removal position RP where thecassettes 20 are removed from the servicer 17.

A pair of similar horizontal roller conveyers 61, 62 are used to supporta cassette 20 in the standby and removal positions SP, RP, and forconveying the cassette 20 to the let-off position LP and from thetake-up position TP, respectively. A platform 63 with multi-directional,freely rotatable metal ball transfers 64 are used to support a cassette20 in the let-off and take-up positions LP, TP and convey the cassette20 to and from these positions.

An outer rim 65, in the form of a metal angle with an upstanding flange,surrounds the conveyors 61, 62 and platform 63 and acts as an abutmentagainst which the base 21 of the cassette 20 is clamped in the let-offand take-up positions LP, TP.

Similar drive mechanisms 66 are used to push the cassettes 20 betweenthe various positions. In each case, the drive mechanism 66 includes amotor (not shown) which is operatively connected by means of a drivechain 67 to an L-shaped pusher plate 68 which is designed to engage andpush the base 21 of each cassette 20. A drive mechanism 66 is centeredbetween the conveyors 61, 62 in the standby and removal positions SP, RPand is centered in the platform 63 in the let-off and take-up positionsLP, TP. Note that in the let-off and take-up positions LP, TP, a portionof the outer rim 65 is removed to accommodate the receipt of theupstanding flange 69 of the pusher plate 68.

Diagonally opposed clamping devices 70, 71, 72 are used to clampcassettes 20 in the corners 73, 74 formed by the rim 65 in the let-offand take-up positions LP, TP. The opposing clamping devices 70, 72closest the roller conveyors 61, 62, each have a bar-shaped clamp 75which is retractable out of interfering relation with movement of thecassettes 20 to the let-off and removal positions LP, RP, and which ismovable to and from opposite portions of the rim 65, when the bar clamps75 are fully extended towards each other. The remaining clamping device71, which is diagonally opposed to the other two clamping devices 70, 72has two, similar outstanding parallel bar clamps 76, 77 which are alsoretractable out of interfering relation with movement of the cassettes20 on the ball transfers 64, and which are reciprocable to and from eachother to engage the bases 21 of cassettes 20 in the let-off and take-uppositions LP, TP, and together with the other bar clamps 75, lock thelet-off and take-up cassettes 20 in the corners 73, 74.

In operation, assuming there are cassettes 20 clamped in the let-off andtake-up positions LP, TP, and a cassette 20 is in the standby positionSP, the first set of bar clamps 75, 77 in the take-up position TP areretracted, so that the associated pusher plate 68 can be activated topush the adjacent cassette 20 from the take-up position TP to theremoval position RP. Upon return of the pusher plate 68 to its restposition, the second set of bar clamps 75, 76 in the let-off positionare retracted, so that the second associated pusher plate 68 can beactivated to push the adjacent cassette 20 from the let-off position LPto the take-up position TP where it is clamped in place. Upon return ofthe second pusher plate 68 to its rest position, the third pusher plate68 in the standby position SP is activated to push the fully loaded,standby cassette 20 into the let-off position LP where it is immediatelyclamped in place. The spent cassette 20 in the removal position RP istaken away for reloading, and a fully loaded fresh cassette 20 is placedin the standby position SP on the indexing table 60. Thus, the operationof moving cassettes 20 to and from the most important let-off andtake-up roll positions LP, TP, is continuous and as uninterrupted aspossible.

Robotic Grabber

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 7, there is shown the robotic grabber 80which comprises a pair of trackways 81, 82 which are mounted in parallelrelation on the framework 40 in overhead relation above, and centrallyaligned with, cassettes 20 in the let-off and take-up positions LP, TP.

A pair of similar, wheeled trolleys 83, 84 are movable along thetrackways 81, 82 from a rest position adjacent the cassette 20 in thelet-off position LP, i.e. the so-called let-off roll, to a position,shown in dotted line, beyond the cassettes 20 in the take-up positionTP, i.e. the take-up roll. A motor 85 is operatively coupled by means ofa gear box 86 and drive chain 87, to each of the trolleys 83, 84 formoving the trolleys 83, 84 back and forth along the trackways 81, 82.

A pair of jaws 88, 89 are pivotally mounted on each of the trolleys 83,84 so that they can be rotated from a first position where they arepoised to grasp the leading edge 37 of liner 31 on the let-off roll, toa second let-go position, shown in dotted line, where the leading edge37 of liner 31 is free to exit the jaws 88, 89. The jaws 88, 89 arespaced apart to frictionally engaged and hold the leading edge 37 of theliner 31 as the associated trolley 83, 84 moves rearwardly along thetrackway 81, 82 towards the rear frame 45 of the servicer 17. A limitswitch 90 is located between each pair of jaws 88, 89 to signaloperation of the trolleys 83, 84 when the leading edges 37 of the liners31 are firmly within the grasp of the jaws 88, 89. Another limit switch91 at the opposite end of each of the trackways 81, 82 is provided tostop operation of the trolleys 83, 84 and subsequently return them totheir rest positions for future pick-up of another liner 31. Notice thatthe liner 31 will fall, by gravity, over the aligned guide rolls 51, 52as the leading edge 37 of the liner 31 is carried rearwardly by the jaws88, 89.

An operator, standing at the rear 45 of the servicer 17, removes theleading edge 37 of each liner 31 from the jaws 88, 89 and threads themover the guide rolls 52, 53 for securement to the core 29 of the alignedtake-up roll by means of the Velcro-type fasteners 30, 38. The sidewallstock 19, separated from the liner 31, is threaded over the adjacentguide roll 53 and then formed in a loop or festoon at 92, prior topassage upwards to the initial aligning device 100.

Initial Aligning Device

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 9, there is shown the initial aligningdevice 100 which comprises two pairs 101, 102 of similar but oppositelydisposed, freely rotatable conically shaped rollers 103, 104 forrollingly engaging opposing marginal edges of the two pieces of sidewallstock 19. The inwardly conical shape of the rollers 103, 104 of eachpair of rollers acts to keep the stock 19 between them and prevent thestock from straying laterally beyond the pathway defined by the twoopposing pairs or sets of rollers. The positions of the rollers are notaccurately portrayed in FIG. 9, but are designed to show that thelateral position of each pair of rollers can be varied as well as thespacing between the rollers of each pair.

For example, there are two parallel drive screws 105, 106 providedtransversely of the rear frame 45. The drive screws 105, 106 are coupledto handles 107, 108 for manually rotating the drive screws 105, 106independently of each other. As seen in FIG. 9, the closest conicalrollers 104, 103 of the two pairs 101, 102 of rollers, are threadablyengaged with the lowermost drive screw 105 and slidable mounted on theuppermost drive screw 106 shich acts as a guide rod in this instance.Conversely, the farthest spaced conical rollers 103, 104 of the twopairs 101, 102 of rollers, are threadably engaged with the uppermostdrive screw 106 and slidably mounted on the lowermost drive screw 105which also acts as a guide rod. Thus, the combination of guide rods anddrive screws stabilizes the roller assemblies to maintain the conicalguide rollers 103, 104 of each pair 101, 102 firmly, in position, forguiding the sidewall stock 19 onto the overhead conveyor 120. A flatsplice plate 109 is vertically aligned above each of the pairs 61, 102of guide rollers 103, 104, to provide a rigid surface against whichsplices can be made between leading and trailing edges of sidewall stock19.

Overhead Conveyor

With reference to FIGS. 4-7 there is shown the overhead conveyor 120which comprises a structural frame 121 which is rigidly braced and whichis secured to the framework 40 in overhead relation above the trolleytrackways 81, 82. As seen in FIG. 1, the structural frame 121approximates the curvature of the two trackways 81, 82. The structuralframe 121 supports a pair of parallel belt conveyors 122, 123, whichinclude a pair of continuous belts 124, 125 which are reeved around apair of freely rotatable tail pulleys 126, 127 adjacent the rear frame45 in vertical alignment with the splice plate 109, and a pair of headpulleys 128, 129 which are located adjacent the front frame 43. Aseparate motor 130 is operatively connected to each of the drive pulleys128, 129 by means of a gear box 131 and timing belt 132 to drive orrotate the drive pulleys 128, 129 independently of each other but insynchronized relation with each other and the operation of the driverolls 48 for rotating the spools or reels 27, 28 of the twin cassettes20 in the let-off and take-up positions LP, TP.

A pair of sensing devices 133, 134, are used to independently monitorthe movement of the conveyor belts 124, 125. Each of the sensing devices133, 134 includes a wheel 135 for rolling engagement with the adjacentmarginal edges 135, 137 of the conveyor belts 124, 125, and a digitalcounter 138 for sending impulses to a computer which controls operationof the drive motors 46, 130, and cutting device 160 to cut the sidewallstock 19, to length, when the let-off rolls, take-up rolls, and overheadconveyor 120 are brought to a standstill.

It should be apparent that the route traveled by the sidewall stock 19from the let-off roll to the head pulleys 128, 129 is circuitous, butthis is deliberately done to give the stock time to relax, i.e. causewithin in the stock the dissipation of stress which builds up internallywithin the stock during coiling of the stock on the cassettes. Thus, thetravel of the stock to the rear of the frame and then back to the frontis a deliberate effort to improve the quality of stock beforeapplication on the tire carcass.

Discharge Tray

With reference to FIGS. 4, 6, 10, there is shown the discharge tray 140which has a proximal end 141 which is pivotally connected for rotationabout the rotational axes of the head pulleys 128, 129 of the overheadconveyor 120. The opposing free distal end 142 of the discharge tray 140is designed for rotation to and from the adjacent tire building drum 18by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder assembly 143 which isdesigned to be fully stroked-out when the distal end 142 is properlypositioned adjacent the drum 18. The position of the hydraulic cylinderassembly 143 is adjustable to accommodate differently sized drums 18.For example, the piston head 144 is pivotally coupled to the dischargetray 140 intermediate its opposing ends 141, 142, and the cylinder 145,is pivotally connected to an upstanding slidable bracket 146 which isthreadable engaged with a horizontal drive screw 147 that is rotatablysecured between a pair of vertically disposed lugs 148, 149 which, inturn, are welded to a plate 150 which is secured adjacent the frontframe 43. Thus, by rotating the drive screw 147, the position of thehydraulic cylinder assembly 143 can be varied to correspondingly changethe position of the free distal end 142 of the discharge tray 140.

A pair of applicator rolls 151, 152, freely rotatable about the sameaxis which is parallel to the rotational axis of the drum 18, arepivotally mounted at the free distal end 142 of the discharge tray 140for limited rotation to and from the drum 18 to press sidewall stock 19against the tire carcass on the drum 18 and stitch down the stock 19 asthe drum 18 is rotated to wind the stock 19 onto the tire carcass beingbuilt on the drum 18. A small pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 153 isprovided to rotate the applicator rolls 151, 152, in unison, when thesidewall stock is ready to be applied to the tire building drum 18. Thedischarge tray 140 carries the final aligning mechanism 200 which islocated just upstream from the applicator rolls 151, 152, and thecutting device 160 which is further upstream.

Cutting Device

With reference to FIGS. 4, 6, 10-13, there is shown the cutting device160 which comprises a carrier 161 which is slidably mounted on at leastone guide rod 162 (FIG. 11) which is secured longitudinally of the tray140. The bottom portion 163 of the carrier 161 extending below the tray140, is threadably engaged with a drive screw 164 which is secured tothe tray 140 in parallel relation with the smooth guide rod 162. Ahandle 165, located at the side of the tray 140, is provided to rotatethe drive screw 164 to reciprocate the carrier 161 on the guide rod 162longitudinally of the tray 140. The carrier 161 carries a cutting anvil166, which extends normally across the tray 140, and a cutter 167 (FIG.12) which is angularly mounted above the anvil 166 and movable along theanvil to cut the pieces of whitewall and blackwall stock 19.

A conveyor 168, composed of rows of freely rotatable rollers, e.g.roller 169, which are generally coextensive with the anvil 166, ismounted on the carrier 161 for unitary movement with the anvil 166 andcutter 167. The conveyor 168 extends upstream and downstream of theanvil 166 to support the sidewall stock 19 adjacent the anvil 166 duringthe cutting operation. The rollers 169, of the support conveyor 168 arelinked to at least one drive chain 170 which is reeved around a numberof sprocket wheels 171-174 which are mounted on the tray 140 forrotating freely about parallel axes which are parallel to the rotationalaxis of the applicator rolls 151, 152. The support conveyor 168, as seenin FIG. 12, has a limited length which corresponds to its limited travellongitudinally of the tray 140. Moreover, the sprocket wheels 171-174are located, such that the drive chain 170 and attached rollers 169 ofthe support conveyor 168, move along a trapizodal pathway between afully retracted position where the anvil 166 is closest the applicatorrolls 151, 152, to a fully extended position where the anvil 166, shownin dotted line, is farthest from the applicator rolls 151, 152.

The three rollers 175-177 of the support conveyor 168, immediatelydownstream of the anvil 166, are spring-loaded as a unit upwardlytowards the sidewall stock 19, to insure that the knife 178 of thecutter 167 moves along the sloped head or top face 179 of the anvil 166,as the cutter 167 moves transversely of the tray 140 to angularly cutthe pieces of sidewall stock 19 resting on the anvil 166.

The discharge tray 140 includes a second downstream conveyor 180 whichhas fixed rows of laterally oriented freely rotatable rollers betweenthe applicator rolls 151, 152 and the upstream movable conveyor 168 ofthe cutting device 160. Note in FIG. 13 that the rollers of the firstrow 181 of rollers of the fixed conveyor 180 immediately downstream ofthe movable conveyor 168 are designed to mesh between the rollers of themovable conveyor 168 to insure that the pieces of sidewall stock 19 movesmoothly from the movable support conveyor 168 onto the adjacent fixedconveyor 180 of the discharge tray 140.

A pair of clamps 182, 183 are provided to clamp each of the two piecesof sidewall stock 19 firmly against the rollers of the movable conveyor168 downstream and upstream of the cutting anvil 166, when the servicer17 is stopped for cutting the sidewall stock 19. The clamps 182, 183, asbest seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 10, are similar and comprise a planarmaterial which is cut to form a number of fingers, e.g. finger 184, inside-by-side relation for engaging the uneven cross-sectioned shapes ofthe two pieces of sidewall stock 19. As seen in FIG. 12, the fingers 184of the upstream clamps 183, are each provided with a downwardlyextending circular segment 185 for pressing the two pieces of sidewallstock 19 downwardly in correspondingly curved relation between the tworows 186, 187 of rollers immediately upstream of the cutting anvil 166to place the two pieces of sidewall stock 19 over the head 179 of theanvil 166 in upwardly curved, concave relation where the upper surfaceof the stock is in tension, so that the cut in the sidewall stock 19will remain open and not close as the knife 178 moves in cuttingrelation along the anvil 166. The clamps 182, 183 are fastened totransversely extending parallel bars 188, 189 which are rotatablymounted on the carrier 161 and coupled to hydraulic or pneumaticcylinders 190, 191 which are also rotatably mounted on the carrier 161for rotating the bars 188, 189 and attached clamps 182, 183 into and outof clamping engagement with the two pieces of sidewall stock 19.

The cutter 167 includes an ultrasonically vibrated cutting knife 178which has a relatively flat blade 192 with opposing sharp edges forcutting the unvulcanized rubber sidewall stock 19 as the knife 178 moveslaterally across the stock in either direction. A sensor 193 is providedfor moving laterally, in unison, with the ultrasonic knife 178 to sensethe presence of stock 19. The ultrasonic knife 178 is set at anappropriate speed, depending on the thickness of the stock being cut.The thicker the stock, the slower the ultrasonic knife 178 moveslaterally. The ultrasonic knife 178 in detachably mounted on the carrier161 in angular relation, so that the twin edge blade 192 of the knife178 will rest in parallel relation atop the sloped head 179 of thecutting anvil 166. Also, the knife 178 can be easily removed forreplacement of a dull cutting blade 192. The included angle between thecutting plane and the plane of the support conveyor 168, measureddownstream of the anvil 166, is an acute angle.

A pair of limit switches 194, 195 are provided beyond opposing ends ofthe clamps 183 (FIG. 10) to limit travel of the cutter 167 and thesensor 193 which is designed to engage the limit switches 194, 195 tostart and stop lateral movement of the cutter 167. Thus, each cuttingoperation will involve movement of the knife 178 laterally in onedirection only. There is no return of the knife to a rest position uponcompletion of the cut as is the case in many cutting operations.

Final Aligning Mechanism

With reference to FIGS. 4-6, 10, and 14-16, there is shown the finalaligning mechanism 200 which is designed to finally adjust the positionsof the two pieces of sidewall stock 19 for application on the tirebuilding drum 18. The final aligning device 200 comprises a pair ofcarriages 201, 202 which are positioned for moving laterally betweenopposing ends of the fixed conveyor 180 just upstream from theapplicator rolls 151, 152. The carriages 201, 202 are slidably mountedon axially aligned, laterally oriented pairs of guide rods 203, 204 and205, 206 and threadably coupled to separate, but parallel, drive screws207, 208 which are parallel to the guide rods and manually rotated bymeans of handles 209, 210 which are accessible adjacent the dischargetray 140 on the same side of the tray that the handle 165 for moving thecutter carrier 161 is located.

Each of the carriages 201, 202, carry a fixed inner guide plate 211 anda parallel fixed outer plate 212 which is parallel to the centerline ofthe discharge tray 140. A third, shorter guide plate 213 is mounted oneach of the carriages 201, 202 between and in parallel relation with,the inner and outer guide plates 211, 212. The intermediate guide plate213 is movable to and from the outer guide plate 212 to vary the spacingbetween them to accommodate sidewall stock of different widths, sincethe stock is passed between the outer guide plate 212 and theintermediate guide plate 213. For example, a manually operated handle214 is used to adjust the position of the intermediate guide plate 214on the piston rod 215 of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 216 which isassociated with each of the carriages 201, 202.

A plurality of freely rotatable rollers 217, 218 are below each of thecarriages 201, 202 for supporting the sidewall stock 19, as it passesthrough the carriages 201, 202 between the outer and intermediate guideplates 212, 213.

The intermediate guide plates 213 are each C-shaped and include a flatplate 219 which is spring-loaded in the direction of the outer plates212 to accommodate any slight variations in the width of the sidewallstock 19, as the stock passes between the outer guide plate 212 and thespring-loaded intermediate plate 219.

In operation, assuming the servicer 17 is properly positioned in respectto the tire building drum 18, and the unvulcanized tire carcass on thetire building drum 18 is ready to receive the strips of sidewall, andthe twin cassette in the let-off position LP is loaded with separatereels or spools 27, 28 of unvulcanized whitewall and blackwall stock 19,and an empty cassette 20 is in the take-up position TP, the operatoroperates the let-off motors 48 to rotate the leading edges 37 of theliners 31 into engagement with the waiting jaws 88, 89 of the roboticgrabbers 80 which are activated to move the leading edges 37 to the rearof the servicer 17. The operator grabs the leading edges 37 with thefirst fastener part and moves the edges into interlocking engagementwith the cores 29 that are wrapped with the second part of the two partfastener. When the two pieces of sidewall stock appear, the operatorforms them into festooning loops 92 and threads them through the initialaligning device 100 onto the overhead conveyor 120 for passage to thedischarge tray 140 which has been rotated into position adjacent thetire building drum 18, as seen in FIG. 4. When the operator sees thatthe leading edges 37 are over the cutting anvil 166, the servicer 17 isstopped and the cutting device 160 activated to cut the leading edges37. The servicer 17 can then be operated in the automatic mode.

The separate systems for supplying whitewall and blackwall stock 19 areindependently operated until the digital sensors 134, 133, associatedwith the systems, trigger a shut down of the systems to cut the piecesof stock, to length, after which the applicator rolls 151, 152, arerotated toward the drum 18 to press the properly aligned whitewall andblackwall stock 19 onto the tire carcass. The drum 81 is then rotated topull the stock 19 from the discharge tray 140 and wrap it on the tirecarcass. The hydraulic cylinder 143 is then inactivated to rotate thedischarge tray 140 from its extended position back to its retractedposition against the front frame 43 of the servicer 17. The operatorthen steps onto the safety net 42 and continues building theunvulcanized tire carcass. Upon completion, the unvulcanized carcass isremoved from the drum and subsequently moulded and vulcanized.

While the unvulcanized carcass is being completed on the drum, theservicer is operated in the automatic mode to feed and cut, to length,the next two strips of sidewall stock 19 which are held on the dischargetray 140 by the clamp 182 that is downstream of the cutting anvil 166,until such time as the strips are ready for application on the nextunvulcanized tire carcass being built on the drum. Thus, no time is lostin the measuring and cutting of the strips of sidewall stock 19. Theservicer 17 is continuously operated in the automatic mode until thelet-off roll is emptied of stock and liner, at which time the automaticmode must be discontinued, until the cassettes 20 in the standby,let-off, and take-up positions SP, LP, TP, can be shifted around and theleading edge of the new stock spliced to the trailing edge of the oldstock at the splice plate 109.

Thus, there has been described a fully automated machine for immediatelyapplying cut-to-length pieces of sidewall stock without handling by anoperator which can adversely affect the shape and length of the stock.Another advantage of the machine is the use of the ultrasonic twin-edgedknife which does not mar the whitewall stock and saves time by cuttingin either direction which does not necessitate returning the knife to arest position after the cut is made.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for cutting a strip of unvulcanized rubbery material comprising:(a) a plurality of rollers freely rotatable about parallel axes lying in a common plane for supporting the strip to be cut and for conveying the strip in a direction perpendicular to said roller axes; (b) a guide means mounted above the roller and extending parallel to the roller axes and beyond both lateral edges of the strip conveyed on the rollers; (c) a carrier mounted on the guide means and slidable back and forth along the guide means in a direction parallel to the roller axes; (d) a cutting anvil located between two of said plurality of rollers, said anvil having a head surface located above the rollers, said head surface being sloped at an acute angle to the plane of the roller axes in the same direction as the direction in which the strip is to be conveyed; (e) an ultrasonic cutter also mounted on the carrier and including an ultrasonically vibrated knife blade which is inclined at the same angle as the sloped head surface of the anvil and has a portion resting on top of said sloped head surface of the anvil; (f) said anvil and said ultrasonic cutter both being connected to said carrier and being movable with said carrier back and forth parallel to the axes of said rollers between positions that are outside the lateral edges of the strip conveyed on said rollers; (g) means in close proximity to the anvil for clamping the strip to the rollers on both the upstream and downstream sides of the anvil, in respect of the direction of travel of the strip on the rollers; and (h) a sensor movable with the carrier which senses a thickness of the strip and controls speed at which the cutter moves along the anvil in relation to the thickness of the strip.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping means (g) includes clamps on the upstream and downstream sides of the anvil, each clamp including a plurality of flexible fingers in side-by-side aligned relation to adapt to an irregular contour of the strip, the fingers having free distal ends for engaging the strip.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fingers of the clamps have on their distal ends circular segments for pressing the strip downwardly between adjacent rollers immediately upstream of the anvil so as to bend a portion of the strip over the upstream side of the anvil upwardly and away from the anvil and retain that portion of the strip in tension to prevent closure of a cut during a cutting operation.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said the rollers immediately downstream of the anvil are spring-loaded upwardly in the direction of the ultrasonic cutter.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, which includes means for detachably mounting the knife blade on the ultrasonic cutter, so that a worn out or defective knife blade can be easily removed and replaced. 